Part of Warner Ridge Project Gets Go-Ahead

The city Planning Commission gave the developer of the controversial Warner Ridge project the go-ahead for a portion of his development without completion of some of the mitigation measures required for the plan.

Developer Jerry Katell appealed to the commission Thursday to let him build a 125-unit townhouse rental complex on De Soto Avenue near Oxnard Street and put on hold, for now, plans for 690,000 square feet of office space.

Katell announced in November that he would sell five acres of the property, east of De Soto Avenue, to a residential developer.

As a condition of the city’s approval of the entire project, Katell was obligated to make several improvements to city streets, most notably widening De Soto Avenue and Oxnard Street.

The developer argued that since hearings on the matter concluded that much of the increase in traffic would come with the commercial portion, he should be able to build the residential portion without having to complete all traffic mitigation measures.

The Planning Commission unanimously agreed. The City Council, which must give final approval, may consider the proposal next week.

Ken Bernstein, an aide to Councilwoman Laura Chick, said the region will still get the traffic mitigation when the commercial portion is built.

“We weren’t here today to re-fight the Warner Ridge battles of the past,” he said. “What was before us was a specific request as to what mitigations are appropriate” to the residential portion of the project.

Katell is expected to set aside $160,000 that would have been applied to widening Oxnard Street in a fund to be used to install traffic safety improvements, such as traffic signals.

He said he hopes to begin construction in the spring.

Gordon Murley, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowner Organization and an outspoken critic of the development, said he wasn’t surprised by the panel’s decision, adding that the city is opening the door to other changes to the plan.

He also said Warner Center already has a number of apartment complexes with vacancies, and that this development will only add more empty buildings to the market.